[OPEN] Well there is no such thing as you

[droptheious]

Who: Varian and YOU!
What: March Catchall!
When: Thoughout the month of March.
Where: Around the city + game areas

Content Warnings: Warning for both Jumanji and Catabombs events!



Throughout March

Varian has recovered completely from his corruption by now and he's finally settling himself into a routine again. He knows everything will inevitably be disrupted by whatever monthly insanity is going on but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy some semblance of normalcy in the time between, right? He spends good portions of his day at the potion shop. It's nice to be able to put his wares on sale somewhere- and more to the point be around to make sure Melius is getting a fair price for his hard work. If you're new here, you might be gawking at the tall lizard man nervously flitting about- if you are, you get a glare from Varian's corner of the store, a silent warning to be nice. Otherwise, he'll greet anyone with a friendly "what can I get for you?" from whatever pile of stock he's been working on.

Or perhaps you'll see him in the driveway of the Disaster House in Cassandra. Now the last awful few months have passed and the weather is getting better, so he can be found working on his awful car again. It has bodywork now, and he's started to add the engine to it. He currently has it jacked up so he can work beneath it- his legs sticking out from one side as he lays on a creeper board. Sometimes, a hand will come out to paw for a tool of some kind, before vanishing back under the car. Once in a while, he reaches out and a clump of weeds grows under his palm- reacting to his coldblood augmentation of the month. Varian grabs a handful of them, lets out a frustrated "aaugh, hey no! not again!" from under the car, before pulling himself out to try and...deal with the plant growth before it gets out of control again, muttering under his breath as he does so.

"I don't know how Fern deals with this all the time, geez."

14th March - Closed to Fern

It's been a pretty terrible last few months, in all honestly. His and Fern's first anniversary had been tainted by Fern's death and Varian's resulting corruption and beasthood. The Day of Hearts went a little better, what with their bond and all. Though that has carried its own...complications. Mostly the being technically married now, oops sort. Maul's actions had left a stain on that month, too. So Varian is determined that Fern's birthday will go amazingly, without a hitch if he can help it.

So Fern will wake up alone, but with a little note on the bedside table and the smell of good food coming from downstairs.

Happy birthday! Come on downstairs when you're ready, I'm cooking breakfast. I promise this one isn't a trap.

A game for those who seek to find

Varian is not really well built to survive in a jungle. Even before he lost his leg and got it replaced with a prosthetic he was not well suited for this sort of terrain. He's small and skinny and can't really run fast or swim well or anything that requires not dying in a jungle. Especially a jungle actively trying to kill you. So it's safe to say he's not having a fun time here.

Perhaps you catch him perking up after his roll, gaining himself a monkey tail. He is definitely NOT impressed by this chain of events. This isn't the first time Varian has had to deal with monkey features- something he has pointedly told absolutely no one for his entire time away from home.

"OH, COME ON!!" he pulls at his tail but it's...definitely there and stuck to him, given the little 'ow' he mutters as he tugs on it. "This doesn't even make SENSE!"

Or perhaps you catch him trying to run and hide from Van Pelt, the boom of a gun somewhere in the distance as he presses against a tree, panting, eyes wide. A man's voice is taunting him out there, promising him he will find him. Varian casts you a frightened glance, keeping his voice low.

"There's a crazy guy out there, trying to kill me! Can we just roll and move onto something else before he freaking shoots me?"

Catacombs

He does a little better in the caves. Despite the leg, he can clamber up ropes with a surprising amount of agility. After you get used to climbing up your adopted sister's 70 feet of magical hair, you can climb up anything remotely rope-like easily.

You might find him at the fire, torn between charging in and not- part of him understands it's not real, it can't be, but he's blatantly uncomfortable, dithering. He casts you a worried look, then turns back to the house, chewing his lip.

"It's- it's not real, right? It- it can't be. It's just a trap, they...there wouldn't really be people in there, do you think?"

Or perhaps you see him happily wandering around the choronology of seasons puzzle, excited to be able to do something here. He moves to a few tiles, humming softly to himself before turning to you, pleased as anything.

"I know what this is! These are the patron pthumerians! We just... we just need to line them up right, I think we should be able to get this, I read up on them a lot."

Or perhaps, towards the end of the journey, you find him at the sign promising as above, so below. He could be caught in his own incompetency, made stronger by the latest problems he's had with Maul. He hugs his arms around himself, sinking to his knees, softly whispering "I only wanted to do the best I could- I didn't know it would end like this, I didn't know I wouldn't be enough". Or, perhaps, he has found you, caught in your own anxiety spiral, putting a solid, gentle hand on your shoulder, squeezing once.

"Hey. Deep breaths. We can get out of this. Do you want to talk about it? It- it might help get you out."

[[OOC: Want to plan something else out with me? Let me know on teeff. Will match format!

Comments

Catacombs: End in sight!

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz had definitely needed to let him have the catacombs puzzle. That had been much more difficult than she expected, not knowing all of the Pthumerians by heart. This whole weird boardgame thing had been unexpected, weird and super dangerous, but somehow the two of them had managed to make it through, each of them depending on the other to help fill in what needed to be fixed. Once they got to the black hole though, Luz had given pause, and has hesitated where Varian pushed forward, and immediately he was on his knees, mumbling to himself and she quietly cursed to herself.

This gave her Deerington vibes, specifically that one where they'd been looking through the hole that showed their worst memories. Luz could only guess something close to this was happening to Varian, and they might need to depend on each other. Varian would need her on this, and if it had to be BOTH of them, likely she might need some of his help too.

"Varian, focus! Focus on me, my voice. What are you feeling?"

[droptheious]

Varian knew sitting in the archive for hours upon hours at a time would finally pay off. He'd disliked most of the adventure, but the puzzle had been a delight. FINALLY, it was something he could handle without wanting to scream half the way through it. If only all of what they were put through in Trench had an over-complicated puzzle in it, the whole place would be so much more survivable.

This- this on the other hand definitely isn't. Varian's made enormous strides in finding some real self-worth, but this month has knocked him hard. He's not even seeing Luz as he stares- unblinking ahead of them.

"I messed it up, Luz," his voice is small, hurt. "I just- I tried so, so hard to help him and none of it was worth anything in the end."

Catacombs - Calling Fire

[violetlies]

[It's been a long day.

Kokichi's already dealt with the horrors of the jungle - unpleasant, to say the least - but he somehow made his way through. Not without incident, but he's alive. He's long since realized that's all that matters in the end. He's taken steadying breaths and prepared for whatever was next, brushing his white outfit off that is no doubt now a bit more ruined with dirt and grass stains, at the very least.

And that's when he hears the crackling of a fire. He looks up, and there's something in him that wants to run towards the blaze, some kind of heroic instinct he keeps tapered down as opposed to Kaito - who, if he were here, would've gone running full-tilt at the inferno. That would've distracted him, at least. Having a pet moron around always made things easier. Unfortunately, he didn't have that. He just had himself and the fire ahead. His eyes narrowed, and he steeled himself. No. That can't be real. That's a trap.

If he were to go charging in, it'd be suicide. His power, limited as it was, wasn't the type to solve any problem like this. And then he realizes he's not alone. There's another boy. He asks if there can't possibly be other people in there, right?

Kokichi walks up to stand beside him, then looks him in the eyes.]

No.

And even if there were, it wouldn't be worth it. Unless you're the type to want to be a useless martyr.

[His voice is cold, contrasting with the sound of burning embers nearby. He's always told people the difficult truths they didn't want to hear. He could only hope that this one was something that'd be listened to. Otherwise...it'd be stupid on his part to try to save the guy if he didn't listen. But keeping people safe might make up for some of the guilt lingering inside him.

No. Wait. He can't lock himself into this spiral. That's what the trap is. And he's too smart to get outwitted here.]

[droptheious]

[Varian's no stranger to Weird Stuff Happening - between Deerington and Trench, he's seen it all at this point. And yet, and yet it still catches him out, from time to time. As much as he's experienced. as much as he's learned to guard against, he knows that time and time again this place will trip him up and pull him into something insane or deadly or both.

He vaguely understands now that this is what's happening to him, in the back of his mind. Even as he feels the drive to charge forward, to do something. Compassion overriding common sense. He looks at the person next to him, frowning softly.]

I don't- I don't know. But if there's even a tiny chance someone's alive in there to save it's got to be worth it, right?

[It's a trap. He knows it's a trap. He's smarter than this and he still takes a step towards the house regardless. ]

March 14

[laminae]

It has certainly been a rough few months, and Fern would be lying if he didn't say it made him a little nervous for his birthday.

He loves birthdays, he always had. Thank Joshua and Margaret and Jake for always going all out with the parties and cake and gifts back when he was Finn for that. As Fern they've been... a lot more up and down, though he doesn't want to go as far as just skipping it this year. It's still his birthday, maybe being in a new world, one that isn't Deerington, will mean it isn't a total trash fire? He can hope that, right? Right??

He wakes up to the smell of breakfast, breakfast he assumes being cooked by Reaper. That's sort of the guy's M.O., after all - being a huge edgy grumpus who cooks delicious food!

He stretches, checks his omni, and sees the message left by Varian that has him suspicious. Don't think he's forgotten the very last I told you so, and even though he says it isn't a trap....

This is Varian. It's probably a trap.

Still, the smell of breakfast is tempting, and if it's going to be a trap he might as well face it head-on. He clambers out of bed, shaking the excess leaves and flower petals out of his hair, then heads downstairs in his pajamas. He'll peek into the kitchen when he gets down there, looking around, visibly expecting a trap. "Hey," he says, "Morning."

[droptheious]

Varian's track record would suggest this is very much a trap. But as Fern heads into the kitchen, nothing remotely trap-like seems to be existing in the general area. As promised, Varian is at the kitchen actively making breakfast for a change. He has some bacon pancakes going in the frying pan (or...the closest approximation to bacon that Trench will allow) and there's a pot of freshly brewed coffee on the kitchen table- along with a wrapped gift.

When Fern greets him, he turns to grin in his boyfriend's direction.

"Good morning, happy birthday," then a pause, because Fern is looking squirrely. "I reiterate, this is not a trap. I just want to give you a nice day."

Early March

[prodigalhairess]

[The past few weeks have felt... different. Good different. Varian has recovered from that horrible transformation, Cass wants to stay in the house permanently... life is good. Rapunzel is feeling happier than she's felt in a long time, so it's almost with a skip in her step that she wanders around the grounds outside the house.

The sounds of tinkering draws Rapunzel over to the driveway, and her curiosity quickly takes over. Varian will be able to hear the pitter-patter of her feet as she moves this way and that, inspecting every edge of the car until she spots Varian half-under the thing and wanders over.]

What is this? Some kind of horseless carriage?

[droptheious]

[Things really do finally seem to be looking up. Varian's lived in this world long enough to know that such happiness is usually short-lived. That something awful is lurking just around the corner to ruin everything. But until that time comes, he's planning to enjoy the peace as long as they have it.

He hears Rapunzel's feet pattering about and pulls himself out from under it when she speaks, grinning. He's pretty damn pleased about this, after all. ]

Yup! It's called an automobile, or...well, most folks call them cars. [He points at the cavity where the engine is still getting fixed into place.] It's run by this engine. They're everywhere in the future. I know we can't really go anywhere here, but I kinda wanted to make something for the sake of it.

[Just to see if he COULD. A little passion project just for him, instead of pouring literally everything he had on making something for other people. Just this once, he's allowing himself a sliver of selfishness. ]

A game for those who seek to find - Van Pelt

[lightthedarkness]

When Sailor Moon had been summoned to the Jungle through the game, she hadn't even realized she had done it. She thought the game had been something else when she picked up the dice, only to have it prick her finger and bring her here.

Well, whatever, deed done.

She had been traveling around the jungle when she saw Varian. She brightened up considerably and was JUST about to call out to him when she saw him duck behind a tree.

"Come out and face me boy! Time to die like a man!" Van Pelt sneered, firing a gun that caused part of the tree to break off.

Her eyes narrowed and she immediately ran past Varian and towards Van Pelt. Van Pelt was reloading his gun.

That was his mistake to give her any amount of time.

[droptheious]

Varian has been trying to be as quiet as he possibly can. He knows he can't outrun Van Pelt, he's been hoping he can outsmart him, but that would mean getting even the slightest bit of ground against the man. He hears the gun reloading and winces, he can't run any further. He's honestly expecting to get a bullet in a brain.

...Right up until he senses movement and see Sailor Moon RACING off towards his attacker. He very almost yells at her to be careful. But then realises how stupid that would be. Van Pelt is raising his rifle again, ready to aim at where Varian was hiding when he sees the girl coming at him. He doesn't aim at her.

"It wasn't YOUR roll."

Perking Up

[eudaimonikos]

No, it makes total sense! You're both primates, right?

[Michael is being Inappropriately Calm about this! He doesn't seem particularly suited to the jungle either - finely-dressed and skinny as he is - but he's just sort of chilling cross-legged on the ground. Might as well relax while nothing is actively trying to kill them!]

Here, give me the dice before you get prehensile feet. Unless you want those? They seem useful.

[droptheious]

[Varian casts Michael a panicked look.]

No! No it doesn't make sense! We're nowhere near the same!!

[Except...you know, it kind of IS. He hurriedly hands the dice over.]

I really, really, really don't want those, please roll. Thank you.

catacombs — chronology of seasons

[creidim]

[ Luna's hovering at the exit of the room, peering in with her wand held aloft while Varian's examining the tiles about the place. She watching curiously, head tilted to the side as he talks. ]

Do you think there's something that happens if we solve it? [ Everything... seems calm for now. And she suspects there might be more to it, but she's not quite sure what it is yet. Maybe it's just a test that allows for something different with Sleepers. There's plenty to test them physically and emotionally, this one might just simply be a mental exercise.

And she's likely to be able to help him solve this relatively quickly too, considering she's been reading up on the Patrons too. So with an exhale, she steps to join him. It's only when she actually enters the room herself that the wall behind her immediately starts to move and quickly seals the room up, locking them inside. ]

... Oh.

[ Oh no. ]

[droptheious]

I don't know, maybe? I mean- it's here so it's fifty-fifty if we get something decent for it or-or if it actively tries to kill us.

[Aaaaaand then the room seals behind her as she steps inside. He stares at it for a moment and then breathes out slowly. This might as well happen. ]

...Okay so it's probably the second one.

[saltyadam]

"Perhaps herbicide?"

Adam smiles a little, leaning down to peer at the source of the cursing.

"But I'm not sure I'd trust any herbicide this place sells. You could always make your own."

[droptheious]

Varian snorts lightly, giving up on trying to pull the plants up to focus on Adam instead, pulling himself from under the car properly.

"You're forgetting who I'm dating," he teases lightly. "I can't have herbicide here, that's like... murder boyfriend juice. This is a...new recent thing. Accidentally growing plants."

Potions!!!!

[fusrodaaaah]

"... You keep making that face."

It's very quiet. Unsure. Is Varian supposed to be making that face? He's not sure. But there have been quite a few people in and out today. Maybe he missed something. Or someone? He's not sure.

But now it's quiet for a moment, and he can look over from the alchemy table to catch the tail end of one of Varian's scowls. Melius glances up, then down to a little potted plant, trailing his finger along a leaf, causing it to bloom larger.

"Is... is there something. Wrong with your face?"

[droptheious]

"What face?"

He knows exactly what face he made. He puts down the box he's been putting out exhaling softly ad he watches Melius do his thing with the plant. That's a whole new coldblood thing he's already noticed in himself. Kind of hard not to when you're dating an actual plant person.

"It's just- some people are giving you weird looks and I don't like it."

Later March; Potion Shop

[kyley_b]

It isn't immediately apparent that the tall, scrawny figure who enters the shop is Kyle. This would be chiefly because his head and face are hooded and masked, hiding him nearly completely. He scuttles along the side of the shop, trying to remain inconspicuous and failing completely.

He sidles a little closer to Varian.

"Ineedadreammachine," he mutters all in one breath. "Stroboscopic flicker device."

[droptheious]

Well. This is a whole dang thing happening to him right now. Varian kinda stares at the hooded guy coming in. Because nothing attracts attention like some squirrely person hiding their face scuttling around your place of businesses. He frowns at the voice, at the familiarity of it. It's too muffled to place immediately, but oh boy is it bugging him.

"A...dream machi-" he squints a little more, he knows what one is, but- "Well, I don't...have those in stock? It's uh- not something anyone has asked for...ever. But I can build one for you?"

Van Pelt + Next insanity

[threelayers]

Neopolitan was already in the process of running from a certain nutjob herself. Yeah, fuck that guy. Fuck him with an electric cattle prod. She snarled silently over her shoulder and looked back. the last shot was a distance away and they might have had a few minutes before he caught up. Illusions were ... useful.

A quick nod and she was holding the dice. It was her turn to roll right? This would get rid of him right. Was he ready?

(OOC: Wanna run from a stampede?)

[droptheious]

The psycho with the gun was absolutely the worst and he's having a bad time here. Varian's glad to see Neo here, and the sound of the gun far off means she's at least got her powers working here. That's...well, that's a stroke of good fortune, which they need plenty of.

He nods wordlessly, passing over the board he's been carting around. Whatever comes next can't be as bad as Van Pelt...right?


[[ooc: heck yes, let's!!!]]

catacombs!

[hijinxer]

how long has it been since jinx has wandered through the catacombs? she doesn't know. with everything she's seen and heard underground, it feels like it could have been days. either way, she's in low spirits to begin with by the time she finally manages to make it towards the strange sigm up ahead. it's barely a sign, more like a riddle if anything and in reading it, jinx realizes this is probably the exit.

but there's something horrible in that chamber. something impossibly vast, an all-consuming darkness that seems to pull and unravel and it makes jinx's thoughts spiral as she collapses to her knees just outside the room. ]

NO... no, I don't like this.

[ she murmurs to herself, needing desperately not to be alone in front of this terrifying sense of nothingness. hugging herself tight, she starts to backtrack when she hears another voice coming from somewhere inside. the boy's voice doesn't belong to either mylo or clagger, but hearing what he has to say?

it wrenches a sob from her throat as a vivid image of vi kneeling before vander's body as the foundations of the cannery burns to the ground flashes before her eyes. ]

I only wanted to help. I only wanted to help.

[ she repeats the words frantically, not knowing why or who she's trying to justify herself to. ]

I only wanted to rescue you! I didn't know I really am a jinx!

[ sniffling heavily, jinx runs towards the black hole, clutching her head and yelling: ]

Make it stop!!

[ .. too bad it's so dark. she just trips right over varian. ]

[droptheious]

[If there's one thing that can pull a person out of an anxiety spiral, it's having someone else charge full-on into you. Varian yelps as someone rams into this side, causing him to fall sideways. There's a solid, metal thunk as his prosthetic leg hits the floor. He looks up, catching the panicked words of the girl who ran into him and quickly moves towards her. The suffering of someone else is enough to drag him out of his own pain.

For now, at least. ]

H-hey. It's okay. Take a few deep breaths, you're- you're okay.

[Probably not the truth, but anything to calm her down a little. ]

the fire

[feudalladyshandmaid]

"I don't care."

There's that familiar shock of blue, and a sense of indifference. Which is... false. As a matter of fact, Cassandra cares. Cassandra cares an awful lot about many things she's claimed she didn't. This burning house is no different, or the figures wandering within.

Fuck it. She's heading for the door, tall with purpose.

"I have to get in there."

[droptheious]

Varian hesitates before he starts to follow her. Experience in this world has made him very cautious. So much of what they see is usually some sort of trap. He remembers the last house he wandered into which wiped everyone's memories and he'd honestly nearly got trapped in that one forever.

He knows things aren't always what they appear.

But he also knows Cass is more bloody-minded than he is and if she says she's gonna do a thing, nothing will shift her from that task. So he follows, chewing his lower lip worriedly.

"Okay, okay- but- but if it gets weird we need to bail okay?"

Because he's not letting her wander into an actual trap alone.